Whilst I can’t claim this to be comprehensive in any way, it should give a shooting novice some idea of the terms used. It is good form to know the terminology if you are going on a shoot, as novices will be easily spotted if they fail to understand the phrases and words used.
All Out! – What beaters call at the end of a drive
Bag – Game killed that day
Beaters/Drivers – They flush out the game by ‘beating’ the ground
Couple – Wild ducks are counted by the couple
Covert – A wood (silent ‘t’)
Covey – A group of grouse or partridge
Drive – Each sweep taken up during a day’s shooting
Gun – This doesn’t just refer to the actual firearm but the person shooting it, as well
Hill – A Scottish moor
Loaders – They load guns
Peg/Stand – Where the guns are located (although for grouse shoots it is called the ‘butt’ and for duck shoots the ‘hide’)
Wisp – A group of snipe
William Hanson
Tutor, The English Manner
